Tackling waiting lists with holiday sessions

Did you know there are more than 7,000 girls age five across Scotland waiting to join Girlguiding Scotland?

We want to make sure girls don’t miss out on all the fun and adventure we have to offer. That’s why we’re looking for your help to support a series of pilot projects to give girls who are on waiting lists a chance to join in.

How will holiday taster sessions work?

They’re a great way to help keep girls on waiting lists interested and involved in Girlguiding and give them a sample of all the exciting things to come.

Each session will offer the rough equivalent of a term of guiding (around 18 hours) taking place over an action-packed 3, 4, or 5 days. And girls have the option to make their Promise at the end of the session.

Moira, Scottish Chief Commissioner, teamed up with her local secondary school for a camp with a difference in a bid to bring new girls into Girlguiding. Find out how she got on and what she learned here.

What happens after the taster sessions?

If you’re in an area with long waiting lists, you might worry about running a taster session if there’s not spaces available in local units for girls to join afterwards.

But the fun doesn’t have to stop at the end of the taster session. Girls can go onto join units as spaces become available throughout the year but you can also explore other ways to keep girls engaged – from continuing to offer school holiday sessions, one-off events or by encouraging girls to get involved with independent guiding, our remote guiding scheme.

Some girls actually find that meetings in the holidays fit in better with their lives.

How you can help

If you’re in an area with a long waiting list and would be up for running or supporting a taster session during the school holidays we’d love to hear from you!

You don’t have to be available for the whole project but you do need to be enthusiastic, open to new ideas and enjoy being part of a team. It doesn’t matter if you’re relatively new to Girlguiding yourself or a long-time member, everyone is welcome to get involved, whatever their age or experience.

Each new project will be fully funded through the Gannochy Trust Developing Guiding Fund. This includes costs relating to activities and programme resources, uniform for girls and adults, venue hire, transport, training materials, etc.

It’s important that new projects meet local needs so please chat to your county commissioner about whether a holiday taster sessions could work for your area.

If you don’t think what we’re describing would work well in your area but you have an idea for an alternative flexible guiding project, get in touch as there may be other funding available to help develop your idea further.